KARACHI: Shai Hope smashed 47 from 32 balls before David Wiese took three wickets to put Lahore Qalandars in command as they beat Quetta Gladiators by 63 runs in the 10th match of the Pakistan Super League season 8.
Defending champions Qalandars put up a combined batting effort to reach a respectable 198/6 in the 20 overs after they were put into bat.
In reply, apart from Jason Roy, Gladiators’ batting lineup failed completely in the chase as they finished the 20 overs with only 135 on board for the loss of eight wickets.
Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen gave an early breakthrough to his side in the very first over when he plumbed opener Abdul Wahid Bangulzai on a golden duck.
Martin Guptill and Roy then led the way and took the scoreboard to 52/1 before David Wiese came into the attack and dismissed the New Zealander on 15 after the powerplay.
Roy lit up the sky with five maximums and a four during his scintillating knock of 30-ball 48 before Rashid Khan got rid of him in the 10th over.
Following Roy’s dismissal Quetta lost control of the chase as they start to lose wickets at regular intervals despite a short-lived intent shown by Mohammad Hafeez (25 off 22) when he took Haris Rauf to the cleaners smashing two back-to-back sixes in the 11th over.
Wiese bagged two more wickets in the middle, dismissing Hafeez and Iftikhar Ahmed to almost end the game for Gladiators, whereas, Shaheen also took two more scalps to finish with brilliant figures of 3/15 in his four overs.
Earlier, Hope led the batting charge for Qalandars with a powerful knock in the middle, laced with five fours and a maximum, after openers Fakhar Zaman and Tahir Baig were sent back to the hut inside the powerplay.
West Indies’ new ODI captain sailed Qalandars to 146/3 before Odean Smith (2-41) got rid of him with Iftikhar grabbing the catch at deep mid-wicket.
Left-hander Hussain Talat also played a brief cameo alongside Hope, scoring 26 from 13 balls.
Zimbabwe’s Raza, however, fired in with two sixes and a four and went not out on 32 from 16 balls to steer Qalandars to a massive 193/5.
Quetta bowlers leaked too many runs, especially pace spearhead Naseem Shah, who went wicketless against 47 runs in his four overs.
Odeam Smith and spinner Qais Ahmed claimed two wickets apiece while Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Hasnain took a scalp each.
